This Cheese of the Month Gift Club from Gourmet Monthly Clubs includes 3 different types of cheese each month. Each block of cheese is a generous 1/2 lb in size and the selections are unique – not something you will find in your chain grocery store.

This month’s selection included: Parmigiano, Manchego, and Gouda. We were treated with a cheese tour through Europe, as these cheeses come from Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands.

Our Cheese of the Month gift arrived nicely packaged in a plain cardboard box with insulated envelope that included an ice pack to keep the food chilled.

Also included in the box is a newsletter which explains all about the different cheese selections we received. The newsletter talks about the history of the cheese, suggestions for serving, and tasting notes. It’s really quite interesting!

For example, do you know anything about Manchego cheese? Well, as we learned from our newsletter, it is a hard, easily grateable cheese that comes from Spain. It is made exclusively from the milk of Manchega sheep found in south central Spain. Manchego cheese can be found in most tapas bars in Spain, usually alone on a plate in fanned triangles, sliced thinly from the wheel. It is usually accompanied by olives, chorizo, or Jamon serrano and often washed down with a cava (sparkling white wine), fin (dry sherry), alight red wine, or some beer. it is also good over grilled vegetables or sometimes is served as a dessert accompanies by fresh fruit and honey. It only takes a small amount of cheese to satisfy your palate.

Are you looking for a unique gift idea this Christmas? Or do you know a food connoisseur or cheese-lover who loves to experiment with new flavors who would enjoy getting fine, gourmet cheese delivered each month?